Now Commenting On:

Christiani enjoys successful Majors debut

Christiani enjoys successful Majors debut

8/23/13: Nick Christiani strikes out Logan Schafer in the ninth to record his first career Major League strikeout

By Mark Sheldon
/
MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- Reds reliever Nick Christiani, called up for the first time on Thursday from Triple-A Louisville, had a successful Major League debut Friday with 1 1/3 scoreless innings vs. the Brewers.

Christiani, who replaced Alfredo Simon in the eighth and inherited a runner on second base with two outs, walked his first batter, Norichika Aoki, on four pitches, but retired his final four in a row.

"I just stepped off and took a deep breath and reminded myself to do what got me here and not try to do too much," Christiani said of regrouping following the walk. "The first hitter, I was trying to throw the ball a million miles an hour. It's going to do nothing but get me into trouble."

Christiani, a New Jersey native, had his parents, sister and girlfriend in attendance at Great American Ball Park. He was given the ball from his first pitch and the one from his first strikeout as keepsakes.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.